It’s official: Focus RS on the way

Ford confirms hottest Focus ever to arrive in 2009

Related content

It's finally
coming. Ford has today confirmed that the second-generation Focus RS is on the
way, and it's set to be the hottest Focus ever.

And, just to prove they're
serious, the guys at Team RS have shown us a dark, teasing picture of the new
RS. It looks mean.

Based on the new Focus ST
but with bigger, blistered wheelarches, bonnet vents and a gaping front air dam
with secondary side intakes, the RS is described as a 'no-compromise Focus for
more enthusiastic drivers'.

Technical details are
scant, but the RS seems likely to get four-wheel drive and a twin-turbo version
of the ST's 2.5-litre five-pot engine. That should be good for some 300bhp and
a 0-60 time in the five-second bracket - genuine competition for the Subaru
Impreza STi.

Expect the RS to command a
similar price tag to the Impreza, too. Despite a cult following, the original
Focus RS - launched in 2002 - wasn't too profitable: Ford is reported to have
lost £7,000 on every model. The new one is expected to cost around £25,000.

Ford says a concept
version of the Focus RS will arrive some time next year, with the smart money
on the London motor show in July. The production version will follow in 2009,
giving us plenty of time to get all misty-eyed about RS-based Fords of old. Did
someone say Cosworth?